Daniel Pelka investigation deploys updated methods
Neil Puffett
Friday, August 9, 2013
Child protection experts in Coventry are using new methods for analysing child deaths as part of their investigation into how Daniel Pelka died, CYP Now can reveal.
Daniel, who died from a head injury in March 2012, had been starved and beaten by his mother and her partner, who were convicted of his murder last week.
Concerns were raised during their trial that professionals who had regular contact with the four-year-old failed to act on signs he was being abused.
It has now emerged that the investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death is using new techniques to investigate whether anything went wrong and, if so, how to ensure it does not happen again.
A spokesman for Coventry Council told CYP Now that the city’s Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) has incorporated elements of the “systems approach” serious case review method, alongside the more traditional process.
Changes to the way serious case reviews are carried out were recommended following a government-commissioned review of child protection in the wake of the Baby Peter case.
The traditional method of carrying out serious case reviews was criticised by Professor Eileen Munro in the 2011 review for being too focused on errors rather than "looking at good practice and continually reflecting on what could be done better".
Instead she mooted use of the systems approach, developed by the Social Care Institute for Excellence (Scie), which tries to uncover how the management and culture of an organisation have an effect on the judgments and actions of professionals.
The model, adapted from a method used in the aviation industry, involves interviews with frontline staff to understand their thinking at the time and how it influenced decision making.
Revised government guidance on safeguarding, which came into force on 15 April, allows councils to use the systems approach for conducting serious case reviews.
However, the serious case review into Daniel's death was initiated prior to the 2013 guidance coming into effect.
“[The LSCB] are using the 2010 Working Together framework, but will be using elements of the systems approach,” the council spokesman added.
Scie, which developed the systems approach under its Learning Together model, said safeguarding boards appear to be positive about the new system.
“We are already working with one-third of all boards in England to develop their capacity,” Dr Sheila Fish, head of Learning Together at Scie, said.
“They are keen to use the systems approach to review and improve their routine practice – as well as to investigate tragedies.
“Over 60 case reviews have used the Learning Together approach to date and we will be publishing the lessons learned from those reviews later this year."
